CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Unitholders [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) [Member]
Balance (in units) at Sep. 29, 2012		57,013
Balance at Sep. 29, 2012	$ 1,090,499	$ 1,151,606	$ (61,107)
Net income	78,798	78,798
Net unrealized gains(losses) on cash flow hedges	584		584
Reclassification of realized losses on cash flow hedges into earnings	2,465		2,465
Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits into earnings and net change in funded status of benefit plans	10,705		10,705
Recognition in earnings of net actuarial loss for pension settlement	0
Partnership distributions	(201,257)	(201,257)
Sale of Common Units under public offering, net of offering expenses	$ 143,444	$ 143,444
Sale of Common Units under public offering, net of offering expenses (in units)		3,105
Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans (in units)	0	113
Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans, net of forfeitures	$ 3,888	$ 3,888
Balance (in units) at Sep. 28, 2013		60,231
Balance at Sep. 28, 2013	1,129,126	$ 1,176,479	(47,353)
Net income	94,509	94,509
Net unrealized gains(losses) on cash flow hedges	(518)		(518)
Reclassification of realized losses on cash flow hedges into earnings	1,406		1,406
Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits into earnings and net change in funded status of benefit plans	560		560
Recognition in earnings of net actuarial loss for pension settlement	0
Partnership distributions	(211,020)	$ (211,020)
Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans (in units)		86
Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans, net of forfeitures	7,390	$ 7,390
Balance (in units) at Sep. 27, 2014		60,317
Balance at Sep. 27, 2014	1,021,453	$ 1,067,358	(45,905)
Net income	84,352	84,352
Net unrealized gains(losses) on cash flow hedges	(1,159)		(1,159)
Reclassification of realized losses on cash flow hedges into earnings	1,388		1,388
Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits into earnings and net change in funded status of benefit plans	(5,207)		(5,207)
Recognition in earnings of net actuarial loss for pension settlement	2,000		2,000
Partnership distributions	(213,118)	$ (213,118)
Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans (in units)		214
Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans, net of forfeitures	8,611	$ 8,611
Balance (in units) at Sep. 26, 2015		60,531
Balance at Sep. 26, 2015	$ 898,320	$ 947,203	$ (48,883)